Historically, paper has been an immensely comprehensive medium that has propagated ideas, cultures, religions, laws, and even art works. But unfortunately the technology behind paper-making has always been related to consumption of massive quantities of natural wood with significant electricity usage. Even modernistic iterations of paper like e-book technology require power to run and display. But Taiwanese researchers have supposedly found an adroit solution for this in the form of their rewritable ‘i2R e-paper’, which doesn’t need electricity for its inherent displaying mechanism.
According to the scientists from Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute, this exclusive invention requires a rudimentary form of heat as its energy source for storing and transmitting images on to its adjustable display system. The written images (fonts and letters) can also be erased by embedding the paper on to a thermal writing device (analogous to fax machines).
Moreover, according to Frank Hsiu, a senior researcher, this fascinating electronic concoction will have the capacity to be rewritten for a whopping 260 times. The i2R can enter into the commercial fray in just a period of one to two years. The possibilities of its application are limitless – digital books, electronic bulletin boards, digital signage and even product labels are just a few to name.
More importantly, the environmentally friendly conception will have the potentiality to save copious quantity of natural resources, otherwise expended in traditional methods of paper-making.
Via: AFP
